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Do You Have ‘Fat Fresher Syndrome’?

Before you answer that, let me tell you a few facts…

According to a study conducted by Slimming World an average a fresher gains two stone in their first year of Uni and 59 % of students blame stress for this weight gain. Another one of the main culprits is (unsurprisingly) alcohol (56%) and post-partying grub (59%) – so yes, that Subway you demolished in the early hours of the morning does count, even if you don’t remember it.

The results are shocking, aren’t they?

I happen to be a fresher and with the summer season fast approaching I’m starting to panic. If you are anything like me, in January you planned to look something like Kendall Jenner by March and at this moment in time that is definitely not the case. So I’m now on a quest to get a my dream bikini body by the summer.

I have found that staying healthy at Uni is not always possible, and the convenience of the corner shop up the road is too tempting to buy copious amounts of chocolate and crisps. Before I left for University in September, I told myself I wouldn’t be one of those people who come back home for the holidays twice the size they were before they left. However, when you are caught up in a whirlwind of leaving home, making new friends and spending the majority of your time clubbing this nightmare does become a reality.

Like a lot of freshers, I struggle to find a balance between being healthy and still having fun (e.g. drinking lots of alcohol followed by chips, carbs and more carbs the next day) but I want change my ways slightly so I don’t return home a ‘fat fresher’. But where do I even start?

I aim to make a few changes, the first one is to actually get out of bed at a normal time. I always find getting out of bed early sets me up for the day as I am able to fit in a nutritious breakfast so I don’t reach for the biscuits mid morning instead. When it comes to going out, opting for a lower calorie alcoholic drink such as vodka and diet coke over wine will help save calories and I also hope to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Despite not being able to afford a gym membership, a quick workout video from YouTube or a walk into town and back will do the job!

I will keep you posted on my progress and let you know how being a ‘healthier’ fresher is working for me. Until then, do let me know if you have tips of your own! I will also be posting cheap and healthy recipes so keep an eye out for them.